I definitely never missed a New Year's Rockin' Eve, whether I was at a party or at home with the family. I also remember the tail end of American Bandstand from my younger days and I would rarely miss that. Last but not least, Super Blooper and Practical Jokes and last but never least, the Pyramid iterations through the years. He was awesome even then - one of the ultimate hosts. His impact on this culture cannot be understated, and he will be missed. Rest In Peace.

To highlight how entertaining he was and how much he added, even in small ways, here is Dick Clark tormenting William Shatner periodically while Shatner attempts to win Pyramid by himself:

"Funny isn't it, how naughty dentists always make that one fatal mistake."

As you noted (OP), had as big an impact on american pop culture as anyone in our lifetime. Leaving that kind of legacy and living to 82 makes it hard to be too sad, but I certainly feel for those closest to him.

I'd imagine twitter is heavy on the Dick Clark/hologram jokes right now.

He was the precursor to MTV and all it begat, and was bigger behind the scenes in live television than he even was on. A major part of the formation of pop culture has been lost. And New Year's Eve won't be the same. Heck, the reason New Year's Eve in Time's Square is the center of the universe is BECAUSE of Dick Clark. We lost an icon.

Even though he stood for a lot of things that were antithetical to what I believed in the 60's-70's era, like lip-synching and disposable pop, I always had a lot of respect for Dick Clark. He always made people smile, and always took the high road when criticized.

When he came back from his stroke, barely able to talk, and kept showing up on live, national television for New Year's Eve for seven more years, even in a reduced role, it put him in the Human Being Hall of Fame in my eyes.

RIP to a man who had at least a billion "friends," and almost no enemies.